NOW PLAYING

France arrests soldier accused of mosque plot

Serviceman arrested at his air force base near city of Lyon for planning attack on local mosque, interior ministry says.

11 Aug 2013 23:37 GMT

A 23-year-old French soldier was arrested at his air force base near the city of Lyon for planning an attack on a local mosque, the French interior ministry said.

The soldier held views "close to those of the radical extreme right" and had already attacked a mosque in the Bordeaux region last year without causing much damage, the ministry said on Sunday, without giving further details.

Security services are grappling with an increase in far-right activity in France, home to Europe's largest Muslim minority.

The government closed down half a dozen far-right groups in July after the death of a left-wing student in a brawl between fringe groups.